NY/NJ dredging project combines infrastructure improvements and air quality benefits

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently presented a new case study on the New York/New Jersey Harbor Deepening project.

The project is an example of how a team of federal, state, and local stakeholders in New York and New Jersey worked together to cost-effectively and expediently offset emissions over the life of a harbor deepening project.

As a result of this partnership, an estimated 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxide were prevented from polluting the air, reported EPA.

The new case study outlines how government agencies came together during the $2.1 billion channel deepening at the Port of New York and New Jersey to ensure Clean Air Act compliance while providing lasting clean air benefits.

The 12-year NY/NJ Harbor dredging scheme began in 2004, and included the completion of 21 dredging contracts, removing more than 40 million cubic yards of sediment to provide a 50-foot depth for ships accessing the Port of New York and New Jersey.